Bed motion for printing presses



July 13, 1943. w. M. KELLY BED MOTION FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR V L L E n M M m L H w ATTO RN y 1943- w. M. KELLY 2,324,001 BED MOTION FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR \A/IL LIAM M. KELL Y r ATTORNEY Patented July 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 17 Claims.

This invention relates to printing presses and more particularly what is commonly referred to as two revolution presses; and the object of the invention is to provide an improved bed motion for presses of the kind under consideration employing a mechanism of extremely simple construction as well as a structure of high degree of efliciency for imparting substantially constant reciprocating motion to the bed of the press; a further object being to provide, in addition to a well balanced drive, a centralized and condensed location of the bed actuating mechanism, thereby affording desirable space for various devices used in presses of this type and kind, while also providing for the use of a greater number of bed supports and a better distribution of said supports; a still further object being to providev means of simple construction for automatically controlling the forward and reverse operation of the bed and in utilizing gear sectors operating upon centrally located rack segments on the bed controlling delivery of the bed to the forward and reverse driving positions in the continuous reciprocatory movement imparted to the bed; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a press of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple and economical in construction, and which is constructed as'more fully hereinafter described.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. l is a side and sectional view of a press made according to my invention diagrammatically illustrating certain parts thereof.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic top plan view showing the arrangement of gear racks on the press and part of the drive mechanism, omitting other details in the press structure for sake of simplicity; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In the construction of cylinder presses of the flat bed type, various designs of bed motions have been employed. In many of these constructions, the effort to obtain smoothness of operation has only been accomplished at a sacrifice of other important factors, such as, weight and thickness of the reciprocating bed, lack of means sign by minimizing the number of parts employed, or in providing an easy and synchronized bed drive, or in providing a proper and firm support of the bed, not only at the sides thereof but centrally and longitudinally thereof, making possible the use of a thinner and lighter bed. Further, none of these presses fulfill the requirement of so compacting or grouping the operative parts and the bed drive with respect to the supports as to provide in the press, room for the conventional accessories, such for example, as the cushioning air cylinders and the like. My improved press construction is designed to accomplish these advantageous results and economies; particularly in adapting the invention to presses of the two revolution type;

In the drawings, I have shown in part at Hi, the frame of the press which includes side members ll having inwardly extending tracks I2 forming mountings for supporting rollers l3 engaging the side portions of the bed 54 to take the thrust of the cylinder [5, as will be apparent. The frame also includes upwardly extending center frame members l6 which carry at their upper ends tracks forming mountings for other supporting rollers [8 for supporting the central portionof the bed as is clearly seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Arranged in the frame l6 and one of the side frames II, is a drive shaft I9 actuated from a motor 29, note Fig. 1, belts 21 passing around pulleys 22 on a motor shaft and around pulleys 23 on the shaft l9.

On the drive shaft l9 intermediate the frames i6 is a pinion 24 which meshes with one bed drive gear 25 on a shaft 26, whereas another similar pinion 24 meshes with an intermediate pinion 21 on a stub shaft 28 mounted in the frames 16. The pinion 21 meshes with a bed drive gear 29 on a shaft 30:

From a consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will appear that the shaft 26 is mounted in one frame l6 and extends to one of the side frames ll, whereas the shaft 30 is mounted in the other frame I6 and extends to the other side frame I I. The latter shaft has outwardly of the frame H a large gear 3| which meshes with a smaller gear 32 having a shaft mounting 33 in the frame'member H. The gear 32 meshes with a gear 34 on theshaft of the cylinder l5.

At this point, it is well to point out that the gears 25, 29, 3| and 34 are all of the same diameter and thu make two revolution to each cycle of the press. This similarity in gears, together with the similarity of other gears and parts used in the press, points to the simplicity and economy in construction of the press, eliminating the use of a multiplicity of different parts.

Slidably mounted in the upper portions of the frames 16 is a shaft 35 operated from a cam 36 on a cam shaft 3-! through a lever 38 pivoted as seen at 39 and having a forked end engaging a cross pin M at one end of the shaft 35. The other end of the lever carries a roller 42 which operates in the groove of the cam 35. The cam shaft 3] is supported in all of the frames Ii, [5, and on this shaft is a gear 43 engaging a gear 44 on the shaft 26 to provide a constant drive of the cam shaft at a ratio of half the speed of rotation of the shaft 25.

Arranged between two fixed collars on the shaft 35 are two bed drive pinions and 45 which are adapted to be shifted automatically through the operation of the cam 36 into engagement with gear racks 4i and 48 respectively on the lower surface of the bed I4. These rack extend throughout the major portion of the length of the bed as will appear in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The gear 45 is shown in alinement with the rack 41 in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

Intermediate the racks 41 and 48 are two thinner but wider gear racks or segments 43 and arranged adjacent the end portions of the bed, and sufiiciently thin to clear the pinions 45 and 46 in their transverse operating movement into and out of engagement with their associated gear raacks 4'1, 48, as will clearly appear upon a consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawings.

It will appear from a consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawings that the racks 41 and 48 are arranged in close proximity to the supporting rollers l8, and the rack segments 49 and 50 are arranged centrally of the bed, thus maintaining the drive mechaniism of the bed centrally and longitudinally thereof, while at the same time,

the bed is firmly supported in close proximity to this feed mechanism.

Supported in the center frames l5 adjacent the ends of the press, as will be seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, are stub shafts 5! and 52 on which are mounted, for free reciprocating movement. gear sectors 53 and 54 having at the free arc end thereof, gear teeth as seen at 55 for engagement with the gear racks 49 and 50, to deliver the bed to the drive pinions 45, 45 engaging the gear racks 4'! and 48. The sectors 53 and 54 are operated through pitmans or connecting rods 56 and 51 respectively, which are in turn pivoted to side surfaces of the gears 25, 29, as is indicated at 58 and '59 respectively. The gears in this sense, operate as cranks for actuating the connecting rods to in turn impart reciprocating movement to the sectors 53 and 54.

Considering the parts when in the position as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the bed i at the extreme end of its forward travel, ready to start the printing stroke. In this position, the sector 54 has its teeth 55 in engagement with the rack segment 50. When the gear 29, rotatin clockwise as seen in Fig. 1, has traveled approximately 90, the rack 48 is moved into engagement with the pinion 46, then positioned in alinement with said rack by actuation of the cam 36; at which time, the drive pinion continues the travel of the bed to the left, the sector 54 continuing to travel to the left in another 90 of revolution of the gear 29. 1

In the aforesaid operation of the sector 54, the sector 53 has moved inwardly to a point where the teeth of the sector are in position to ultimately pick up and engage the rack 49 in the next 180 of travel of the gear 25 to bring the bed to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings; thus having completed 360 of travel of the gears 25 and 29, returning the sectors to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

In the next 360 of travel of the gears 25 and 23, the above described operation is repeated in the sense that the sector 53 first delivers the rack 4? into position to be engaged by the pinion 45 then moved into position as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This pinion continues the travel of the bed to the right for the pick-up by the sector 54 to return the bed to the full line position shown in Fig. l at the completion of the last mentioned 360 of travel of the gears 25 and 29, which as aforesaid, may be termed the operating cranks. The foregoing completes the cycle of press operation and this will be repeated as the press continues to operate.

It is important to note that the stud mount ing 33 of the gear 32 is so offset with respect to the center of the shaft 39 and the axis of the cylinder i5 as to compensate for wear. The pinions 45 and 46 are retained in constant mesh with the drive gears 25 and 29, thus producing a balanced drive. It will further appear that the engagement of the pinions with the bed racks is located directly beneath the cylinder substantially at the point of engagement of the cylinder with the bed or the forms thereon. Further, this engagement is located centrally and longitudinally of the bed, thus producing a balanced drive.

In connection with the particular drive shown in the present gear ratio, it will of course be apparent that different gearing can be employed to provide a different speed of travel of the bed. However, it is preferred that the balanced drive herein illustrated, be employed in order to maintain substantially constant and synchronized reciprocatory movement of the bed.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, 60 represents diagrammatically compressed air cylinders which are usually employed to cushion the reverse of the bed. These are only illustrated and outlined to show the adaptation of such cylinders to a press of my novel design wherein the operating parts are substantially all contained within the limits of the press frame. In this connection, it will be understood that the travel of the bed is within the limits of the ends of the frame as is also the travel of the sectors employed. This also produces a compact press construction aside from and indepedent of the compact grouping of the bed driving mechanism centrally of the press with respect to the sides and ends thereof.

At BI is shown a hand Wheel and fiy-wheel structure at the end of the shaft H], by means of which the press may be operated by hand for testing or other purposes.

It will appear from a consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawings that the tracks I! include inwardly extending flange portions 62 which operate in correspondingly formed grooves 63 in the gear racks 41 and 48 to key and guide the bed in its movement. Thus, the said tracks or rails form what are commonly termed gibs.

From a consideration of Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will appear that the bed driving pinions are completely disengaged from the racks 41 and 48 when the bed has moved to the extreme ends of the press. In fact, an appreciable movement is attributed to the bed in both directions before these racks are brought into engagement with the respective pinions 45 and 46 in the manner heretofore described. In the same sense, the gear sectors 53 and 54 become entirely dis-' engaged from their respective racks 49 and 50 after the bed is delivered to the drive pinions. Thus each driving means acts substantially independent of the other, apart from the slight overlap in the pick-up and carry as between the feeding or driving elements employed; namely, the pinions 45, 46 and the sectors 53, 54. It is also to be noted that the axis of the cylinder is offcentered with respect to the axis of the pinions 45 and 46, the latter being located centrally between the two limits of travel of the bed I 4. This allows more space for the inking rollers and permits full covering of the maximum forms.

The illustrations in the accompanying drawings are more or less diagrammatic in the sense that the structural details of the press, aside from those relating to the specific mechanism described, are omitted for sake of simplicity in the showing.

It will be understood that in the operation of the press, that in approximately 180 of operation of each crank gear, the bed is moved at substantially uniform travel in the two directions,

whereas through the other 180 travel of the crank gears, the reversing mechanism is actuated. The transfer from the crank speed of the bed in reversal to the uniform speed thereof, is accomplished without jar, as both speeds are at this moment actuated substantially at the same speed. The result will be a smooth operation in the printing stroke.

The pinions 45 and 45 while being rotatable on the shaft 35 are retained against displacement from the shaft by collars 64, thus forming a driving unit which is operated through the cam, or in other words, to move the pinions into the path of travel of the associated racks 41 and 48. This construction materially simplifies the drive of the bed and dispenses with complicated gearing such as usually employed, and this is made possible by virtue of the clearance provided between the pinions and the rack segments when the pinions are moved to the central portion of the bed; or in other words out of alinement with their respective racks.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a printing press, a reciprocating bed movable in constant reciprocatory movement to opposed ends of the press with respect to a centrally disposed impression cylinder, a drive mechanism for said bed comprising, in combination with two pairs of racks arranged centrally and longitudinally of the bed one pair of racks being arranged side by side and the other pair being disposed intermediate the first pair and in end to end relation, a pair of like diameter combination drive gears and cranks centrally of the press, forward and reverse drive pinions arranged above the axis of the drive gears and automatically actuated to engage the first named pair of racks intermittently in the two directional drives of the bed, and gear sectors having fixed pivotal supports at end portions of the press andin operative engagement with said gear cranks for engaging intermittently the other pair of racks in reversing the bed in a complete cycle of press operation.

2. In a printing press, a reciprocating bed movable in constant reciprocatory movement to opposed ends of the press with respect to a centrally disposed impression cylinder, a drive mechanism for said bed comprising, in combination with two pairs of racks arranged centrally and longitudinally of the bed one pair of racks being arranged side by side and the other pair being disposed intermediate the first pair and in end to end relation, a pair of like diameter combination drive gears and cranks centrally of the press, forward and reverse drive pinions arranged above the axis of the drive gears and automatically actuated to engage the first named pair of racks intermittently in the two directional drives of the bed, gear sectors having fixed pivotal supports at end portions of the press and in operative engagement with said gear cranks for engaging intermittently the other pair of racks in reversing the bed in a complete cycle of press operation, and cam actuated means for shifting said pinions into and out of engagement with their respective racks.

3. In a printing press, a reciprocating bed movable to opposed ends of the press with respect to a centrally disposed impression cylinder, a drive mechanism for said bed comprising bed rack segments at end portions of the bed centrally thereof, a pair of elongated racks extending throughout the major portion of the length of the bed and disposed one at each side of the rack segments in close proximity thereto, said racks protruding from the surface of the bed a distance greater than that of said segments, a pair of pinions arranged centrally of the press beneath said cylinder and movable transversely with respect to the segments into and out of engaging position with said pair of racks in the two directional drive of the bed, means for automatically operating said pinions, two drive gears each in constant engagement with one of said pinions, means for rotating said gears in opposite directions in imparting two directional drive of the bed by engagement of the pinions with their re- .spective racks, gear sectors arranged on fixed pivotal supports at the ends of the press, each sector operatively engaging one of said segments in reversing the direction of movement of the bed at each end of the press, and means actuated by said drive gears for operating said sectors,

l. In a printing press, a reciprocating bed movable to opposed ends of the press with respect to a centrally disposed impression cylinder, a drive mechanism for said bed comprising two rack segments at end portions of the bed centrally thereof, a pair of elongated racks extending throughout the major portion of the length of the bed and disposed one at each side of the rack segments in close proximity thereto, said racks protruding from the surface of the bed a distance greater than that of said segments, a pair of pinions arranged centrally of the press beneath said cylinder and movable transversely with respect to the segments into and out of engaging position with said pair of racks in the two directional drive of the bed, means for automatically operating said pinions, two drive gears each in constant engagement with one of said pinions, means for rotating said gears in opposite directions in imparting two directional drive of the bed by engagement of the pinions with their respective racks, gear sectors arranged on fixed pivotal supports at the ends of the press, each sector operatively engaging one of said segments in reversing the direction of movement of the bed at each end of the press, means actuated by said drive gears for operating said sectors, and said last named means comprising connecting rods pivotally coupled with said gears and said sectors.

5. In a printing press, a reciprocating bed movable to opposed ends of the press with respect to a centrally disposed impression cylinder, a drive mechanism for said bed comprising bed rack segments at end portions of the bed centrally thereof, a pair of elongated racks extending throughout the major portion of the length of the bed and disposed one at each side of the rack segments in close proximity thereto, said racks protruding from the surface of the bed a distance greater than that of said segments, a pair of pinions arranged centrally of the press beneath said cylinder and movable transversely with respect to the segments into and out of engaging position with said pair of racks in the two directional drive of the bed, means for automatically operating said pinions, two drive gears each in constant engagement with one of said pinions, means for rotating said gears in opposite directions in imparting two directional drive of the bed by engagement of the pinions with their respective racks, gear sectors arranged on fixed pivotal supports at the ends of the press, each sector operatively engaging one of said segments in reversing the direction of movement of the bed at each end of the press, means actuated by said drive gears for operating said sectors, said last named means comprising connecting rods pivotally coupled with said gears and said sectors, and means supporting the bed at side edges thereof and at each side of the racks and in close proximity thereto.

6. In a printing press, a reciprocating bed movable to opposed ends of the press with respect to a centrally disposed impression cylinder, a drive mechanism for said bed comprising two rack segments at end portions of the bed centrally thereof, a pair of elongated racks extending throughout the major portion of the length of the bed and disposed one at each side of the rack segments in close proximity thereto, said racks protruding from the surface of the bed a distance greater than that of said segments, a pair of pinions arranged centrally of the press beneath said cylinder and movable transversely with respect to the segments into and out of engaging position with said pair of racks in the two directional drive of the bed, means for automatically operating said pinions, two drive ears each in A said drive gears for operating said sectors, said 1 last named means comprising connecting rods pivotally coupled with said gears and said sectors, and means engaging said racks for keying and guiding the bed in its movement longitudinally of the press.

7. In a printing press of the character described, a frame having side walls, a pair of supplemental vertical frame members intermediate the side walls and arranged in close proximity to each other, said side walls and the upper ends of said supplemental frame members having bed supporting rollers, a bed arranged upon and movable over said rollers, the bed having centrally and at each end portion thereof spaced gear segments, a drive rack at each side of the segments and extending throughout the major portion of the length of the bed, a drive mechanism for said bed arranged within and between said supplemental frame members and comprising two reversely driven bed drive gears of like diameter, a bed feed pinion arranged above the axis of said drive gears and in constant engagement with each of said gears, means for automatically feeding said pinions transversely with respect to the path of movement of the bed and into and out of engagement with said racks in the two directional drive of the bed thereby, gear sectors arranged on fixed pivotal supports between said supplemental frame members at the end portions of said frame, connecting rods pivoted to said drive gears and to said sectors to reciprocate the sectors inwardly and outwardly with respect to the ends of the frame in operatively engaging the gear segments to reverse the bed at each end of the frame, and a gear train outwardly of one side of the press for actuating the impression cylinder through one of said drive gears.

8 In a printing press of the character described, a frame having side walls, a pair of supplemental vertical frame members intermediate the side walls and arranged in close proximity to each other, said side walls and the upper ends of said supplemental frame members having bed supporting rollers, a bed arranged upon and movable over said rollers, the bed having centrally and at each end portion thereof spaced gear segments, a drive rack at each side of the segments and extending throughout the major portion of the length of the bed, a drive mechanism for said bed arranged within and between said supplemental frame members and comprising two reversely driven bed drive gears of like diameter, a bed feed pinion arranged above the axes of said drive gears and in constant engagement with each of said gears, means for automatically shifting said pinions transversely with respect to the path of movement of the bed and into and out of engagement with said racks in the two directional travel of the bed thereby, gear sectors arranged on fixed pivotal supports between said suppremental frame members at the end portions of said frame, connecting rods pivoted to said drive gears and to said sectors to reciprocate the sectors inwardly and outwardly with respect to the ends of the frame in operatively engaging the gear segments to reverse the bed at each' end of the frame, a gear train outwardly of one side of the press for actuating the impression cylinder through one of said drive gears, and said gear train comprising two gears of a diameter corresponding to the diameter of said drive gears.

9. A printing press of the character described employing a bed having rack segments disposed centrally and longitudinally of the bed at end portions only thereof, two pivoted gear sectors, one at each end of the press, said sectors being arranged on fixed pivots, means comprising a pair of cranks for actuating said sectors to engage the respective rack segments at corresponding end portions of the bed for driving the bed to the end portions of the press and for delivering the bed automatically to the central portion of the press, other means in operative engagement with said cranks to pick up and drive the bed in both directions at the central portion of the press and for delivering the bed to said operating sectors at substantially uniform speed, said last named means comprising transversely spaced gear racks on the bed and transversely shiftable bed drive pinions intermittently moved into engagement with respective racks in the two directional travel of the bed.

10. A printing press of the character described employing a bed having rack segments disposed centrally and longitudinally of the bed at end portions only thereof, two pivoted gear sectors, one at each end of the press, said sectors being arranged on fixed pivots, means comprising a pair of cranks for actuating said sectors to engage the respective rack segments at corresponding end portions of the bed for reversing the bed at the end portions of the press and for delivering the bed automatically to the central portion of the press, other means in operative eng gement with said cranks to pick up and drive the bed in both directions at the central portion of the press and for delivering the bed to said operating sectors at substantially uniform speed, said last named means comprising transversely spaced gear racks on the bed and transversely shiftable bed driving pinions intermittently moved into engagement with respective racks in the two directional travel of the bed, and automatically actuated means for shifting said pinions.

11. A printing press of the character described employing a bed having two gear racks disposed centrally and longitudinally of the bed through out a greater portion of the length thereof and rack segments intermediate the first named racks and at the end portions only of said bed, two pivoted gear sectors, one at each end of the press, means comprising a pair of cranks for actuating said sectors to engage the respective rack segments at corresponding end portions of the bed for delivering the bed automatically to the central portion of the press, other means in operative engagement with said cranks and said gear racks to pick up and drive the bed in both directions and for redelivery of the bed to said operating sectors, said cranks being in the form of like diameter gears, means for rotating said gears in opposite directions, and said second named means comprising pinions in constant mesh with each of said gears and movable transversely with respect to the bed into and out of engagement with said gear racks.

12. A printing press of the character described employing a bed having two gear racks disposed centrally and longitudinally of the bed throughout a greater portion of the length thereof and rack segments intermediate the first named racks and at the end portions only of said bed, two pivoted gear sectors, one at each end of the press, means comprising a pair of cranks for actuating said sectors to engage the respective rack seg ments at corresponding end portions of the bed for delivering the bed automatically to the central portion of the press, other means in operative engagement with said cranks and said gear racks to pick up and drive the bed in both directions and for redelivery of the bed to said operating sectors, said cranks being in the form of like diameter gears, means for rotating said gears in opposite directions, said second named means comprising pinions in constant mesh with each of said gears and movable transversely with respect to the bed into and out of engagement with said gear racks, and a cam actuated lever for automatically shifting said pinions into and out of engagement with their respective racks.

13. In a printing press, the combination with a bed having centrally and longitudinally disposed racks and rack segments, of a bed drive and reversing mechanism comprising longitudinally spaced sectors swingable upon fixed pivots, means operating said sectors in synchronism to engage the segments of the bed in reversing the bed at each end of the press, and pinions shiftable transversely with respect to the path of movement of the bed and in operative engagement with said first named means for intermittently engaging the racks of the bed for feeding said bed toward and from said reversing sectors.

14. In a printing press, the combination with a bed having centrally and longitudinally disposed racks and rack segments, of a bed drive and reversing mechanism comprising longitudinally spaced sectors swingable upon fixed pivots, means operating said sectors in synchronism to engage the segments of the bed in reversing the bed at each end of the press, pinions shiftable transversely with respect to the path of movement of the bed and in operative engagement with said first named means for intermittently engaging the racks of the bed for driving said bed toward and from said reversing sectors, and means for automatically actuating said pinions in controlling the direction of travel of said bed thereby.

15. In a printing press of the character described, a bed reversing mechanism comprising a drive gear, a reciprocating sector operatively engaging the bed and disposed in spaced relation to said gear, a fixed axis on which the sector reciprocates, and a pitman pivoted at one end to said gear and at its other end to said sector in placing the gear and sector in direct operative engagement for reciprocating the sector in reversing said bed.

16. In a printing press of the character described employing two reversely rotated driving gears and a bed to be driven by said gears in reverse directions in the press, a pinion unit arranged above the axis of the driving gears and shiftable transversely with respect to the path of movement of said bed and operatively engaging the bed to actuate the same, said unit comprising pinions freely rotatable upon a common axis and spaced on the axis to constantly mesh with said reversely rotated drive gears, and means actuating said unit to move said pinions individually into operative engagement with the bed in controlling directional drive of the bed thereby.

17. In a printing press employing a reciprocating bed, the combination with centrally and longitudinally disposed racks and rack segments on the bed, of a bed drive and reversing mechanism for actuating the bed, the reversing mechanism comprising means at opposed ends of the press operatively engaging said rack segments, said segments being disposed between said racks, the teeth of the racks projecting beyond the teeth of said segments, two freely rotatable and closely arranged pinions shiftable transversely with respect to the path of movement of the bed and over the surface of said rack segments in operatively engaging said racks, means in constant mesh with said pinions for driving the same, and means automatically actuating the pinions in controlling direction of drive of the bed by engagement of the pinions with respective racks.

WILLIAM M. KELLY. 

